Participants in a Snow Kayak race compete at the alpine skiing track in Druskininkai, Lithuania on ... [+]
AFP via Getty ImagesThis winter, may resort skiers and snowboarders all share a similar concern: will the resorts be enforcing COVID-19-safe practices? Will state regulation force the resorts to shut down? And will socially distanced policies mean that the wait time for a gondola is three times as long?
Those questions – along with a desire to spend more time away from people – mean many skiers are turning to backcountry skiing: skiing in undeveloped areas with no services, lifts, or avalanche control. While backcountry skiing and snowboarding are enjoyable sports, as well as great ways to squeeze in a serious workout, they’re challenging sports to learn. Skiers need to both carry and know how to use critically important life-saving devices like beacons and probes to find people in case of an avalanche. They also need to know how to read the terrain to gauge if the conditions are safe for skiing or if the avalanche risk is too high. And on top of that, the changing terrain, variable conditions, and deep snow usually mean you need to be an advanced skier or rider before heading into the backcountry. Every backcountry skier should take an avalanche safety class before beginning the sport.
So if all that seems like a bit much for an occasional weekend activity, but you still aren’t enthused about the idea of being at a resort, check out the list below for some suggestions on alternate winter activities that don’t involve crowded ski resorts.
Love mountain biking? Maybe fat biking is for you.
Group of friends riding their fat bike in the snow in Ontario, Canada
gettyIf you love mountain biking, give fat biking a try. So named for the oversized (or “fat”) tires that provide extra traction and grip, fat biking is essentially mountain biking in the snow. The tires and bikes are specially designed for icy and wet conditions, making the risk of skidding off the trail much less than it would be on a traditional mountain bike. Many bike rental shops rent fat bikes in the winter, and you can ride just about anywhere, though nordic trails and gentle summer mountain biking trails are popular options. If you search “fat biking” followed by wherever you live, you’ll likely find plenty of shops offering rentals and tours. Remember that biking in the snow is generally more challenging than biking on dirt or roads, so be prepared for a tiring workout the first few times you go for a spin.
Love bocce ball or bar shuffleboard? Try curling
Strategy plays a huge part in a classic game of curling. The placement of rocks often are used to ... [+]
gettyCurling has surged in popularity recently, perhaps due to the 2018 Canadian curling team’s relatability with the average person. But curling is a high-stakes sport, and while you don’t have to be in Olympic-level shape, it does take serious skill to become a pro. Slightly similar to shuffleboard, but on ice, one player slides a stone down while the other players sweep in the stone’s path to attempt to control the trajectory and ultimate stopping point. Short of building your own curling sheet on a frozen lake (if you do, make sure you build it to regulation), you’ll need to check with your local ice skating rink to see if they offer a curling night. Alternatively, you could find your local Team USA curling club and learn from the pros. And don’t worry if you’re not an ice skater – proper footwear for curling looks more like a flat sneaker than an ice skate.
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Love woodworking? Try ice carving
Woman working with work tool, cutting ice block, making ice sculpture.
gettyWinter enthusiasts who have a reasonably broad definition of what a "sport" is may want to throw a wildcard activity in the mix this winter: ice carving. Though you could certainly just buy a block of ice and get to carvin', there's a very official ice carving association, based in the U.S.: the National Ice Carving Association. In addition to managing ice carving competitions, sanctioning events, creating and enforcing national ice-carving bylaws, and offering various ice carving certifications, the Association has a huge education component for both experts and first-time carvers. You can attend in-person workshops, register for a class at an institution like Kent State or Henry Ford College, or browse through their significant online resources and lessons. Online templates are available, too, once you learn the basics. If you end up feeling inspired, you can even attend a class at the Academy of Ice Carving and Design, currently relocating to Tennessee.
Love paddling? Give snow kayaking a go.
A man uses a kayak to slide down a farmers field in Hartley Wintney, in Hampshire, 40 miles west of ... [+]
AFP via Getty ImagesYes, snow kayaking is very much a real thing, and yes, it's just what it sounds like: sliding down a snow-covered hill on your kayak. It's a bit like sledding, but with a kayak rather than a traditional sled or tube. Most flat-bottom kayaks should work just fine, and you'll want to use your paddle to steer, which actually may give you more control than you'd have with an old-school sled. While snow kayaking is undoubtedly the most obscure sport on this list, it is growing in popularity. There are a handful of international snow kayak events with purpose-build courses and specific scoring, and you'll find low-key mountain kayaking events in mountain towns like Colorado's Steamboat Springs. But if you want to get started, all you need is a nearby sledding hill, a helmet, a well-waxed kayak, and a willingness to take a fall or two in the snow as you work on becoming a snow-kayaking pro.
Love skiing? Rent a mobile ski lodge
The mobile ski lodges come complete with everything you need to sleep in (or on) your car after a ... [+]
Credit: Titus Adventure CompanyIf you genuinely love skiing, go skiing. Nearly all resorts in the country require masks, and with social distancing procedures – and the fact that resort skiing is entirely outdoors – it's likely to be considered a lower-risk activity. But if you want to add a bit of social distancing to your ski trip or go backcountry skiing in a location with minimal infrastructure or resources, consider renting a mobile ski lodge like the ones from Denver-based Titus Adventure Company. The four-wheel-drive vehicles have everything you need for winter ski travel, including a battery jumper kit, a portable propane fire pit with a propane tank, a camp table and chairs, a cooking stove with cookware and utensils, down blankets, and even insulated Yeti brand mugs, so you can keep your après-ski hot toddy pipping hot. For the ultimate avoid-the-hotels move, opt for a rental with a pop-up rooftop tent (though sleeping in one's car is a true ski trip rite of passage.) Titus Adventure Company rents exclusively out of Denver, but you may be able to find similar options through peer-to-peer rental companies like Outdoorsy or RVShare.
The Link LonkNovember 30, 2020 at 06:00PM
https://www.forbes.com/sites/suziedundas/2020/11/30/forget-backcountry-skiing--these-are-the-best-obscure-winter-sports-to-try-this-season/
Forget Backcountry Skiing – These Are The Best Obscure Winter Sports To Try This Season - Forbes
https://news.google.com/search?q=forget&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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